Lighthouse! Ayahuasca Retreat
The Lighthouse Team
Joshua · Owner
Joshua founded Lighthouse with a simple vision: to create a place where people from around the world can experience the traditions of the Amazon in a safe, authentic, and welcoming environment.
He is involved in all aspects of the retreat, from organizing the guest experience to making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. You'll often find him helping wherever needed, answering questions, sharing a meal with guests, or simply having a conversation.
For Joshua, Lighthouse is about more than running a retreat. He wants guests to feel at home, build genuine connections, and experience the Amazon in a meaningful way.
Jino · Manager
Jino grew up surrounded by the Amazon and knows the rainforest, its wildlife, and its waterways exceptionally well. As a jungle guide, he enjoys sharing this environment with guests and introducing them to the plants and animals that make the region so unique.
Jino is also passionate about birds and is an active member of the local birdwatching community. He can often identify a bird simply by its call, so don't be surprised if a jungle walk turns into an impromptu birdwatching session.
At the retreat, Jino helps coordinate projects, leads excursions, and takes care of the many practical things that keep everyday life running smoothly.
Lady Diana · Guardian
Lady Diana is one of our ceremony facilitators and provides support to guests throughout their time at the retreat. Her calm and attentive nature is especially appreciated by guests experiencing an ayahuasca ceremony for the first time.
She is also an experienced jungle and river guide and loves exploring the Amazon. One of her favorite activities is searching for the Amazon's famous river dolphins. She even has her own dolphin call, which she uses to try to get their attention.
Whether in the ceremony space, on the river, or around the retreat, Lady brings plenty of energy, humor, and curiosity to everyday life at Lighthouse.
Joy · Guardian
Joy is originally from Iquitos and has spent the past nine years working in Ayahuasca centers. At Lighthouse, he is one of our ceremony facilitators, helping guests navigate the practical and emotional challenges that can come with the experience.
He sees his role as a bridge between the traditional healers and the international guests who come to the Amazon. His experience has taught him to pay close attention to what people need and to be present without getting in the way of their own experience.
Joy is proud to be part of this work and enjoys meeting people from all over the world.
Yoko · Chef
Yoko is responsible for the meals served at Lighthouse and brings a lot of creativity to the kitchen. She prepares fresh, plant-based food using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
She pays close attention to both flavor and presentation, turning simple ingredients into colorful and nourishing meals.
For Yoko, cooking is an important part of creating a welcoming retreat environment. Her food helps guests stay nourished throughout their time in the Amazon, and she takes great pride in what comes out of her kitchen.
Karen · Photography & Gardens
Karen brings together her creativity and love of nature through photography, gardening, and our permaculture projects.
She is the photographer behind many of the memories guests take home, capturing authentic moments of retreat life with a thoughtful and unobtrusive approach.
When she's not behind the camera, Karen enjoys caring for the gardens, birdwatching, hiking through the rainforest, and exploring the Amazon by bicycle.
Lenin · Caretaker
Lenin is the craftsman behind much of the physical retreat. Living in a nearby Amazonian village, he has helped build and maintain everything from guest accommodations to handcrafted furniture.
A carpenter by trade, Lenin also takes care of construction, electrical work, plumbing, boat transportation, and countless other practical jobs that keep Lighthouse running.
He is known for his quiet nature and attention to detail. One of his more unexpected talents is making animal shapes out of towels for guests' rooms. If you arrive to find a towel creation waiting on your bed, Lenin is probably responsible.
Rusbel · Caretaker
Rusbel was born and raised in Yanamono, a village along the Amazon River, and has spent his life surrounded by the rainforest and its communities.
At Lighthouse, he helps with the day-to-day work of the retreat and makes sure guests have what they need during their stay. He enjoys working alongside the rest of the team and meeting people who have traveled from around the world to experience the Amazon.
His connection to the local community and his lifelong experience in the region are an important part of the Lighthouse team.
Nathalie · Yoga and Soundhealing
Nathalie supports guests as a caretaker, yoga teacher, and sound healer. With a deep connection to nature and a lifelong love of animals, she brings a calm and caring presence to Lighthouse.
Through movement and music, she offers yoga and sound healing to help guests reconnect with their bodies, slow down, and find moments of stillness. She is also there during the more emotional moments, offering support, grounding, and a compassionate presence.
For Nathalie, it is not about leading someone’s journey, but simply walking alongside it with care.
Alexandra · Media
Alexandra supports Lighthouse with business development, content, and communications. Drawing on years of experience in brand building, podcast production, and content strategy, she helps grow the retreat’s presence and share its work with the right people.
Multilingual (German, English, Spanish) and with a background in journalism and education, she brings curiosity, care, and a clear voice to the team’s online world and everyday outreach.
Every retreat needs someone whose main job is to make people smile. At Lighthouse, that's Arriba.
She loves three things above all else: good food, affection, and swimming after a stick in the Amazon River. If someone is willing to throw it, she'll happily retrieve it again and again.
Arriba is part of the little family of dogs and cats that live around the retreat. She greets arriving guests, joins walks around the property, and generally keeps an eye on what's happening.
Her official title is The Swimming Stick Hunter. The position is permanent.
Arriba · The Swimming Stick Hunter
